Benton, Dr. Abner, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1819 for Dr. Abner Benton, this two-story brick house stands on a five-acre former farm in the hamlet of Oxbow, in northern Jefferson County. Its Federal style design includes Flemish bond brickwork, stepped parapet gable ends, a modest cornice and an entrance with sidelights and a semi-elliptical transom. Inside, a side hall holds a finely crafted staircase with thin turned balusters and a walnut handrail. Locally made brick was used, and the form suggests local builders imitated fashions from more developed areas. Benton came to Oxbow in the hamlet's first year of development, served as its first postmaster and was the area's only doctor for over twenty-five years. After his death in 1843, his son Colonel Zebulon Benton, who married a daughter of Joseph Bonaparte, lived here until the 1890s. The house is regarded as one of the better examples of its style in northern New York and retains a high degree of integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a distinctive example of a side-hall-plan Federal style residence from Jefferson County's first settlement period. Such stylish, urban-derived designs are rare in northern New York. It is also tied to the Benton family, who were important figures in the community's history.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 84002405, listed August 23, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., Oxbow |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | August 23, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002405 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1819 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; the form reports good condition and a high degree of integrity despite minor changes, with two non-contributing motel units adjacent. |
| Acreage | 5.6 |
| Coordinates | 44.28882, -75.62621 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 84002405.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5303948
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.